Thinkpads Forum

hello forum-mates,

UPDATE - Friday 7/10

After skimming the entire X-series forum last night, I've gotten concerned about all the BGA-failures in the X31's.....just like the T41 that just failed on me...

Since this machine sits in the corner and runs unattended 24/7, I don't actually need the great portability of an X-series.

All I need is something low cost that has USB2.0, Wifi-G, and a modem....and will run a normal cheap/large HD.

So I'm leaning towards an R51 with Intel graphics as the best (lowest power and cheapest) solution....or possibly a T43/Intel-gpu.

I'm looking to buy one this weekend.

Must have Wifi-G and an IBM Modem in it...512mb ram or better....an AC adaptor...and needs to be a known-good solid reliable TP.

It's going to run 24/7 as a 'connection server' for our off-grid cabin. I'm hoping to cut power-consumption a bit vs. the T41 that just failed.

Don't care about CPU-speed.....don't care about HD...none is fine.

(I'll be putting a 5400rpm 250gb or 320gb in it....so if you have a cheap one, let me know).

A scratch-n-scuff unit might be ok if the price is right.

15" XGA preferred for my old eyes...but since I'll only interact with it once a week, any LCD will do the job really.

NOTE: please email directly rather than PM.....

metal@fullwave.com

thanks much !

Richard

http://www.thinkpads.com/forum/viewtopi ... 11&t=78116

From a trusted seller as well.

NorrisCell wrote:http://www.thinkpads.com/forum/viewtopi ... 11&t=78116

From a trusted seller as well.

hi Norris,

I did check on that one.....but the price is a bit high for that config, and my offer was declined.

But thanks much for taking the time to let me know of it.

If you hear of any other X31....or any R51 or T43 with Intel GPU, please do email me...

metal@fullwave.com

Richard

Assuming you start with a good low miles any Thinkpad, run 24/7, and no super high video duty; you can use any of these machines anyway. That is because the temperature will be very stable and no thermal expansion related BGA failures will occur.

Personally, only an acquired used T40 had ever failed due to BGA detachment. My work T41 failed 2 months after upgraded to a T60. Now everything we have in used are all set to "Adaptive" CPU power setting. All the LCDs are set to 5-10 minutes off time.

I believe X31 along with X32 are ATI video but X30 is intel video.

hello SJ,

Unfortunately, virtually every T40-series machine one could buy have -already- been used, abused, and temp-cycled countless times by now. No way to avoid it...they're all many years old.

From reading almost every thread in the archives about BGA seperation, it is clear that the 'integrated intel graphics' boards fail FAR less often than the ATI-based board.

Regarding the X3- series.....yes, I believe that's correct....all X31's are ATI-based.

The X30 would be almost perfect for this application, except for the slow USB ports. I must have fast USB, and I do not want USB ports via a cardbus card.....that increases power-consumption, and prevents use of other devices in the slots.

An X40, with the ULV PM cpu would be IDEAL....except for those darn 1.8" HD's...

This app needs 250gb-500gb, on a budget, and so requires a machine that will take a cheap 2.5" drive.

fyi, I just measured an integrated-graphics T61 wsxga 2ghz C2D, running XP, idling with Explorer and Ffox open, screen lowest, Wifi on, and HD spinning, at just 9 watts!

With screen off, it was an UFB 6.8 watts!

I was amazed......that's even less than an R51.....and I haven't at all optimized that T61 for power-consumption yet...other than uninstalling some of the bloatware from the factory-load.

Sadly, I don't have the budget for this project to drop $300 on a stock 60-series machine, AND put the required 320gb drive and DVDRW in it.

Still, if a T/R/Z 60 or 61 with some kind of damage, but still operable, were to come my way cheaply.....I'd choose that for the job in a heartbeat!

Look at Smokestoomuch's post here:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=78191

ha ha....I wrote to Smokes instantly when I saw his R51 carcass thread a few days ago!

But sadly, the $55 R51 carcasses are all gone now.

I asked him to let me know as soon as another comes in.....that'd be an ideal solution.....right for the job, and as low-cost a solution as one could ask for.

thanks much for posting to me about it RBS!